Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 9 are below.
Wild Card points help determine the postseason fields in 3A, 4A and 5A, with 4A and 5A also using them for seeding. Find a more detailed breakdown here.
Baseball’s Wild Card point standings for April 2 are below.
Valor Christian running back Christian McCaffrey is the player of the year in Class 5A. (Mark Adams)
The 2013 all-state football teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches. Find more information here.
The players who received the most votes in their classification were selected as the player of the year in their class.
Valley senior Jackson Wright, top, scores back points against Monte Vista senior Simon Schaefer during the Class 3A 170-pound match Saturday night at Pepsi Center. Wright scored a 13-3 victory in helping Valley to the school’s first ever state wrestling team title. (Dennis Pleuss)
DENVER — The town of Gilcrest located on Highway 85 can be called “Valley of the Class 3A state wrestling champions.”
The Valley Vikings claimed the first team wrestling title in school history Saturday night at Pepsi Center.
“It probably won’t hit anyone on the team until we get to hold up that trophy,” Valley senior Jackson Wright said after taking a 13-3 victory at 170 pounds. “We all know we did something special here and made school history.”
Valley’s version of the Fab Five — Ruben Lucero (126), Omar Sotelo (138), Macoy Flanagan (145), Brendan Gonzales (160) and Wright (170) — all reached the championship bouts in their respective weight classes. The Vikings racked up 154 points to hold off Centauri (137.5), Brush (117) and Monte Vista (103.5) for the team title.
Centauri senior Jason Buhr became a two-time state wrestling champion with a 17-2 technical fall against Middle Park senior Adam Visconti on Saturday night. Centauri finished second in the team standing behind Valley. (Dennis Pleuss)
“It’s amazing. Everyone has been working so hard for it,” Lucero said after winning at 126. “It’s so cool. I can’t even put it into words.”
Lucero officially wrapped up the team title with a 6-3 victory over Florence senior Jake Yslas. The only way the Vikings could have lost the team title is if all five Valley wrestlers lost and all three of Centauri’s finalist pinned their opponents.
Lucero, Wright and Gonzales came away with individual titles in the historic night for Valley.
“I think people will start to realize that Valley produces some pretty good wrestlers,” Wright said. “Coach (Mike Caciari) is a great coach.”
Also making history Saturday night was Holy Family junior Joseph Prieto. A 4-0 victory over Sotelo at 132 gave Holy Family its first individual state wrestling champion in school history.
The cafeteria at Holy Family doubles at the wrestling room and the program’s only mat is one given by Bishop Machebeuf.
“It’s feels good. I know now it’s just another win. I’m going to have to keep doing it next year,” Prieto said. “It’s cool to make school history.”
Centauri did manage a pair of individual state champions in senior Jason Buhr (152) and junior Jareb Aziz (195). Both are now two-time state champions after claiming titles last year.
Buhr had one of the most dominating performances in the 3A championship bouts with a 17-2 technical fall over Middle Park senior Adam Visconti.
“I just hoped for the win, but I’m glad it ended that way and I could get a tech,” Buhr said. “We came in ranked third as a team. We are happy with second right now.”
Monte Vista senior Diondre Garcia also became a two-time state champion with a 2-0 victory over Alamosa freshman Isaiah DeLaCerda at 106. It was even more special with his cousin, sophomore Jose Duran, claiming the 113 title for Monte Vista.
“It’s a great feeling,” Garcia said. “I dropped down so my cousin could win a state title too. It’s great that we can both celebrate.”
Olathe senior Trenton Piatt celebrates after winning the 120-pound Class 3A state title Saturday night. Piatt finished the season with an undefeated 35-0 record. (Dennis Pleuss)
Dolores Huerta senior Jared Mestas grabbed his second state title that eluded him as a junior. He placed fourth last year after winning the 126 title as a sophomore. Huerta edged Holy Family junior Julian Prieto, Joseph’s twin brother, 6-5 in the 132 match.
One of the most intriguing championship bouts in any classifications Saturday was the 3A 120 match. Returning state champion Conrad Cole from Brush faced undefeated Trenton Piatt of Olathe.
Piatt had an early takedown and near-fall to take a 5-0 lead. That would all he would need to finish on top of the podium.
Pagosa Springs senior Creede Wylie completed his wild three-day ride with a heavyweight championship title to conclude the tournament. Wylie came in as the top seed last year at 285, but didn’t place.
Wylie pinned Centauri sophomore Devon Chacon at the 1:33 mark in the first period to finish his high school career with a state championship.
His journey to the championship match wasn’t easy this year. He had to squeak out a 5-4 first-round match Thursday.
“It’s such a long three days,” Wylie said. “This is a great way to end it.”
Wrestlers weigh-in prior to the start of the state tournament on Friday. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER — Last year’s Class 3A state wrestling tournament is in the past for Dolores Huerta senior Jared Mestas.
“It’s just a totally a new year. Leave it in the past. What happened, happened,” Mestas said after a second-period pin of The Classical Academy junior Charles Baker in the opening round Thursday at Pepsi Center in the 132-pound bracket. “I’ve got to focus on what I need to do the next few days.”
What happened last state tournament is something Mestas has clearly learned from and now has in the rear-view mirror.
“I’ve been training and working hard for this moment,” Mestas said. “Working hard on my grades too. You can’t wrestle without grades. You can’t go to college without grades.”
After claiming the 3A 126-pound state title as a sophomore in 2012, Mestas came to Pepsi Center last year as the top seed at 138. However, an unexpected loss in the quarterfinals to Hotchkiss senior Jesse Head ended his dream of becoming a two-time state champion. Mestas had to settle for fourth place in 2013.
Mestas has changed his approach this season after failing to repeat. He has friends film every match he wrestles and go over them frame-by-frame to learn from his mistakes. Having a good mental preparation is a key for Mestas to win his second state title in his final shot.
“I’ve got to keep my mind focused on what I need to do,” Mestas said.
There are seven wrestlers in 3A who are attempting to stake claim to a second state title. All had no problem getting through to the quarterfinals that begin 10 a.m. Friday morning.
One of those looking to return to the top of the podium is Centauri senior Jason Buhr. The four-time state qualifier has run the entire scale of emotions during his previous three state appearances.
Buhr placed sixth as a freshman at 135. Had to settle for runner-up at 145 as a sophomore before joining the ranks as a state champion last year winning at 152 in 3A.
“A little more pressure,” Buhr said of being a defending state champion. “I just want to repeat for sure.”
Buhr enters his final trip to state as top seed at 152. He scored a 17-2 technical fall over Faith Christian senior Clark Kelly in his opening match Thursday.
Buhr’s teammate, senior Jereb Aziz, is one of only two undefeated 3A wrestlers entering the state tournament. Aziz improved his unblemished record to 45-0 with a pin in 59 seconds against The Classical Academy sophomore Will Campos in the opening round at 195.
“I just push myself. I really don’t care what record I have,” said Aziz, who won the 182 title last year. “It’s 0-0 now. I just go hard as soon as I step on the mat.”
Olathe senior Trenton Piatt (32-0 record) is the other undefeated 3A wrestler. Piatt pinned his first-round opponent in 33 seconds.
In the team race, the goal is to see who can dethrone three-time defending state champion Alamosa. After the opening round Lamar (29 points), Valley (27 points) and Centauri (26.5) put themselves in good position.
Valley senior Jackson Wright comes in as the top seed at 170 with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Wright lost in the semifinals at 152 before taking third.
“It’s been a long time,” Wright said of waiting for state. “This tournament for me, besides being my last, is pretty much to avenge that loss.”
Wright, along with teammates Ruben Lucero (126), Omar Sotelo (138), Macoy Flanagan (145), Zac Miller (152) and Brendan Gonzales (160) spearheads a strong Valley Vikings contingent that is favored to win the 3A team title.
“It’s been in the back of our heads,” Wright said about going in as the favorite. “What we can do as individuals will give us our team points.”
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Grand Junction started the 2013-14 campaign 7-0. The Tigers then lost two straight just prior to the winter break. However, since that break, GJ is 9-0.
This week, the Tigers cracked the top-10. They are ranked No. 9 in CHSAANow.com’s 5A poll.
Elsewhere in 5A, Denver East extended its stay at No. 1. Fossil Ridge remained at No. 2, and Mountain Vista at No. 3.
Regis Jesuit moved back up to the No. 4 spot after a 2-0 week. Eaglecrest dropped one place, and rounds out the top 5.
Arapahoe is sixth, Overland is seventh and Chatfield is eighth. Highlands Ranch rounds out the ranking at No. 10.
The 4A poll added Golden at No. 10. Other newcomers included No. 8 Centauri in 3A, No. 10 Denver Christian in 2A and No. 8 Shining Mountain in 1A.
Valor Christian (4A), Holy Family (3A), Ignacio (2A) and Caliche (1A) held firm atop their respective polls.